Roy Thomas, chief executive of Kidney Wales, who organise the Cardiff 10k said: “As of April 1, 2016, British Athletics has introduced the ruling which prohibits the use of headphones in all road races across the UK on any single carriageway that is not wholly closed to traffic.

“As a registered British Athletics event this new ruling means that runners taking part in the Cardiff 10K this Sunday must adhere to this rule.

Rule change

“The new ruling has been imposed in the interest of keeping runners taking place in road races across the UK as safe as possible.

“While the new ruling does not allow the use of typical in-ear, or over-ear headphones, runners competing in this Sunday’s Cardiff 10K are able to wear bone-conducting headphones, which don’t completely block external sounds.”

How the Cardiff 10k looked last year:

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Bone-conducting headphones go around the head and do not fully cover the ear.

The rule change was prompted by concerns that runners would not be able to hear the instructions of marshals, vehicles or other runners.

'We understand their disappointment'

Mr Thomas was sympathetic to runners but says Kidney Wales must adhere to the rules.

He said: “Kidney Wales understand the disappointment felt by many runners upon hearing the new British Athletics ruling, however as a race we must adhere to the rules put in place by the governing body for athletics in the UK.”

On the Cardiff 10k website Paul Brooks, from Road Running Wales, said anyone with headphones be disqualified and their finishing time deleted.

Runners flaunting the rule will not be covered by the event’s insurance policy and will not be eligible for prizes.